Automatic stop mechanism



R. HEAD.

AUTOMATIC STOP MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-16.1917- Patented Aug. 2, 1921.

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INVENTOR Fobarf/iad,

ATTOjE Y UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICKE.

IBDBERLT HEAD, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE AEOLIAN PORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

COMPANY, A COR- AUTOMATIC STOP MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 2, 1921.

Application filed August 16, 1917. Serial No. 186,548.

To all whom it may Eoncern:

Be it known that I, RoBnR'r HEAD, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New .York and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Automatic Stop Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to automatic stops for phonographs and the like; and its principal object, stated briefly, is to provide a device of the general character specified which, while possessing the required certainty and accuracy of operation, is extremely simple in its construction and comprises but few parts, wherefore it may be manufactured and sold at a low cost and may be readily installed on any standard instrument.

The invention further resides in the provision of an improved stop mechanism of the above type in which the application and removal of the brake are entirely automatic and are controlled by the movements of the tone arm or analogous part across the turntable in opposite directions, movement in one direction removing the brake to permit rotation of the turn table, while reverse movement acts to set the brake, so that the use of a manual starting lever is thereby avoided.

The invention has special reference to a form of brake or stop mechanism which comprises an operating member connected to travel with the tone arm during its movements and having associated with it a latch or detent for holding the brake in off position, the arrangement being such that when the sound-box carried by the tone arm reaches a predetermined position with relation to the record, the operating member will release the latch from the brake, which thereupon moves to on position. The improvements involved in thepresent invenlated to bring about the automatic release of the brake with absolute certainty when the sound-box reaches the proper point in its travel.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmental plan view of the record-playing portion of a phonograph equipped with the improved stop mechanism, the parts of which are shown in normal position, with the brake applied.

Fig. 2 is a similar View, except that the parts are shown in the brake thrown off.

Figs. 3 and 4 are enlarged side views of the stop mechanism looking, respectively, from the planes indicated by the lines 33 and 44; in Fig. 1.

Figs. 5 and 6are enlarged sectional views, taken on the lines 55 and 6-6, respectively, in Fig. 2.

The phonograph illustrated happens to be of the usual concealed horn type, the horn being located within the cabinet 1 beneath the operating devices disclosed. The tone arm 2 is pivotally supported on the top shelf 3 of the cabinet, and carries the sound-box 4, which may be fed across the face of the record 5 by the engagement of the stylus in the usual spiral groove in said record. The latter is supported on the turn table 6, which rests upon and is rotated by the spindle 7 of the motor, said motor constantly tending to drive the turn table, but being restrained by the action of the brake, as hereinafter described.

The particular stop mechanism herein disclosed is partly concealed under the turn table, and is supported upon the aforesaid shelf 3. It comprises brake means, a brake latch, brake-setting means, and latch releas ing means adjustable to be operated at any point of play from the record; all shown self-contained in the sense that they are mounted on one and the same base plate 8 secured by screws 9 to said shelf. It further comprises independent means which 0 crates the above from the travel of t e sound-box, said means consisting of an angular arm 10 secured to the vertical neck of the tone arm 2, (Fig. 4), and an operating member 12, The latter is here shown as in the form of an elongated U-shaped loop or yoke, constructed of suitable spring wire, one arm of the loop having a bent terminal on which is pivoted a roller 11 swiveled to the free end of the horizontal part of the arm 10. The result is that a swing of the tone arm in either direction produces a magnified'endwise movement of the operating 100 or member, as will be apparent.

he brake means embodied in the invention comprises a brake shoe 15 to engage the rim of the turn table, fixed to an upwardlyextending lug or arm 16 formed on one end of a horizontally-disposed lever 17 the other .end of the lever being pivoted at 18 to the base plate 8. The pivoted end of the lever 17 is enlarged, as shown, so as to form a head 117 through which the screw pivot 18 passes; and this enlarged end or head is provided upon its forward edge with a projection 19 for engagement with a similar projection 22 formed upon the adjacent edge of on the said base plate. The latch is of angular shape, and it includes an arm 24, which extends rearwardly across and above the brake lever 17 and terminates in an upstanding lug or finger-piece 25. The pivoted end of the latch is likewise enlarged, and is provided with a vertical lug 26,

against which bears one terminal of a spring wire member 27, which is coiled centrally around the pivot 18 and has its other terminal arranged to bear against a similar lug 28 formed on the rear edge of the brake lever 17 From this, it follows that the pressure of the two arms of the spring 27 tends to constantly force the brake lever into active position, and, at the same time, to move the arm 24.- of the latch 20 rearwardly across the said brake lever, the latter and the latch swinging in opposite directions, so that their projections 19 and 22 will snap into interlocking engagement with each other. This engagement takes place after the brake-shoe 15 has moved out of contact with the turn table, and is maintained throughout the ensuing playing of the record until the stylus reaches the point where the brake is to be set off, at which time the two projections are disengaged and the brake swings forwardly into contact with the turn table.

The position last described is illustrated in Fig. 1, and is that which the parts assume at the conclusion of playing, and which they normally occupy, of course, until playing recommences. The other, or playing position of the parts is represented in Fig. 2, the transition from the first position to the second being effected automatically consequent upon the movement of the tone arm to the right, first beyond the initial playing position and then to a retracted position where the stylus is in the first groove of the record, as hereinafter explained. The engagement of the projections 19 and 22 is accomplished in such case by the operating member of loop 12, which, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, straddles the lug 28 on the brake; and it is the front end of the loop which actually brings a latch 20, which is pivoted at 21.

about such engagement by pulling back the brake, due to its having been moved rearwardly into contact with said lug 28 during the swinging movementof the tone arm in the direction mentioned. When the brake is pulled back in this way, the pressure of the spring 27 against the latch lug 26 rocks the latch counter-clockwise, as previously explained, and the two projections 19 and 22 then interlock.

The disengagement of the aforesaid projections 19 and 22 is effected automatically by the contact of a latch-releasing lug or finger-piece 30, which projects upwardly from a setting slide 31 carried by the operating loop or yoke 12, with the lug or finger-piece 250m the latch arm 24. This slide 31 is illustrated in detail in Figs. 2, 4, 5 and 6, and, as therein shown, it consists of a substantially U-shaped body whose end portions are disposed transversely of the loop and are clamped thereby in adjusted position, due to the spring pressure exerted against them by the arms of the loop. The lug or finger-piece 30 forms part of the front end of the slide, which also includes a wing 32, the latter and the finger-piece being provided with openings 33 and 3 1 through which the loop arms pass. The rear end portion comprises a wing 35 formed with an opening 36, which alines with the opening 33, and a hook 37 which alines with the opening 34:, so as to enable the passage ofthe loop arms therethrough. The opening 33 in the front wing 32 extends through the outer edge of said lug, and the straight bill of the hook 37 projects across the adjacent loop arm, so that both arms of said loop are afforded a certain amount of play. The openings 34 and 36 are also slightly larger than the loop arms, the result being that the slide can readily be moved along the loop arms to, adjusted position, and thereafter will be held in such position by the gripping action of said arms until again manually adjusted thereon. The finger-piece or lug 3O enables the slide to be easily shifted to the desired position on the loop, as will be understood.

The operation is substantially as follows: The tone arm is first swung to the left over the record to be played, to position the stylus in the last or other selected groove of the track, whereitis desired that the playing should stop, it being assumed that at such time the shoe 15 on the brake 17 is in contact with the rim of the turn table and the projections 19 and 22 are disengaged, as

brake 17 when the sound-box has reached the selected stopping place on the record. The tone arm is then swung to the right slightly beyond the edge of the turn table, and then retracted far enough to engage in the first groove of the track, during which rightward movement the operating loop 12 is retracted and ultimately pulls back the brake lever suiiiciently far to release its shoe from the turn table, whereupon the latter immediately starts to rotate, due to the ac tion of the motor, the brake lever being locked in its off position by the engagement of the projections 19 and 22, as above explained. The slide 31, of course, moves back with the operating loop, so that at the conclusion of this movement of the tone arm its finger-piece 30 will have been withdrawn an appreciable distance from the latch lug or finger-piece 25, the parts then occupying the positions depicted in Fig. 2. Playing then "commences, and the tone arm is fed to the left across the record, the operating loop moving forward at such time and gradually bringing the slide lug 30 nearer to the latch lug 25. When the stylus approaches the stopping groove, the lugs 30 and 25 come into contact, and during the final movement of the stylus the lug 3O presses the lug 25 forward, thereby disengaging the projection 22 on the latch from the projection 19 on the brake lever. The latter then swings into braking position, under the influence of the spring 27, and the rotation of the turn table is immediately arrested. i

I claim as my invention 1. In an automatic stop mechanism, the combination, with a rotatable member, and a member adapted to travel thereacross in either direction; of a brake tending to enga 'e the rotating member; an operating part connected to move relatively to, but in unison with, the traveling member; means tending to hold said braliein disengaged position during the movement of the traveling member in one direction; and means carried by said operating part for engaging and automatically releasing said holding means when said traveling member reaches a predeterminedpoint in such movement, said releasing means being movable relatively to said operating part to determine the position of such point, said operating part cooperating with the brake to disengage it from the rotating member incident to movement of the traveling member in a reverse direction.

2. In an automatic stop mechanism, the combination, with a rotatable member, and a member adapted to travel thereacross in either direction; of a brake tending to engage the rotating member; an operating part connected to move relatively to, but in unison with, the traveling member and to disengage the brake When said traveling member is moved in one direction; means tending to hold said brake in disengaged position during the movement of the traveling member 1n a reverse direction; and a slide carried by said operating part for engaging and automatically releasing said holding means when said traveling member reaches a predetermined point in its movement in said reverse direction, said slide being shiftable upon and relatively to said operating part to determine the position of such point.

3. In an automatic stop mechanism, the combination, with a rotatable member, and a member adapted to travel thereacross in either direction; of a brake tending to engage the rotating member; an operating part connected to move relatively to, but in unison with, the traveling member, said operating part acting during its movement in one direction to disengage the brake; means tending to hold said brake in disengaged position during the movement of the traveling member in a reverse direction; and an impact member carried by said operating part adapted to strike against said holding means to release the same when said traveling member reaches a predetermined point in its movement in said reverse direction, said impact member being settable upon and with relation to said operating part to determine the position of such point.

4. In an automatic stop mechanism, the combination, with a rotatable member, and a member adapted to travel thereacross in either direction; of a brake tending to engage the rotating member; means tending to hold said brake in disengaged position during the movement of the traveling member in one direction; and an operating part connected to move relatively to, but in unison with, the traveling member and having an adjustable device thereon for engaging and automatically releasing said holding means when said traveling member reaches a desired point in its movement in one direction, said operating part acting automatically to disengage the brake during reverse movement of said part. c

5. In an automatic stop mechanism, the combination, with a rotatable member, and a member adapted to travel thereacross in either direction; of a brake tending to engage the rotating member; means tending to hold said brake in disengaged position during the movement of the traveling member in one direction; and an operatlng part connected to move relatively to, but in unison with, the traveling member, and having a spring-held device friction slide longitudinally movable thereon for engaging and automatically releasing said holding means when said traveling member reaches a predetermined point in such movement.

6. In an automatic stop mechanism, the

combination, with a rotatable member, and a member adapted to travel thereacross in either direction; of a brake tending to engage the rotating member but releasable automatically therefrom by the movement of the traveling member in one direction; means tending to hold said brake in disengaged position during the movement of the traveling member in the other directlon; and an operating part connected to move relatively to, but in unison with, said traveling member andhaving mounted uponit a device for engaging and automatically releasing said holdingmeans when said traveling member reaches a chosen point in its second-named movement, said device being adjustable upon said operating part to determine the position oi such point.

7. In an automatic stop mechanism, the combination, with a rotatable member, and a member adapted to travel thereacross in either direction; of a brake tending to engage the rotating member but releasable automatically therefrom by the movement of the traveling member in one direction; means tending to hold said brake in disengaged position during the movement of the traveling member in the other direction; and an operating part connected to move relatively to, but in unisonwith, said traveling part and having mountedupon it a springheld slide for striking against and auto-' matically releasing said holding means when said traveling member reaches a chosen point in its second-named movement, said slide being shiftable upon and relatively to said operating part to determine the position of such point.

8. In an automatic stop mechanism, the combination, with a rotatable member, and a member adapted to travel thereacross; of a brake tending to engage the rotating mem ber; means for holding said brake in disengaged position during the movement of the traveling member across said rotating member; an operating part connected to travel endwise. relatively to, but in unison w1th,'

said traveling member and acting to disengage the brake when moved in one direction; and a releaser for said holding means carried by said operating part and settable thereon to strike against said holding means and automatically effect the release of the brake when the traveling member reaches any chosen point in its movement in a reverse direction. I

9. In an automatic stop mechanism, the combination, with a rotatable member, and a member adapted to travel thereacross', of a brake tending to engage therotating member; means for holding said brake in disengaged position during the movement of the traveling member across said rotating member; an operating part connected to travel endwise relatively to, but in unison a member adapted to travel thereacross; of

a brake tending to engage the rotating member; means for holding said brake in disengaged position during the movement of the traveling member across said rotating member; a spring loop connected to move in unison with said traveling member; and

a releaser for said holdingfmeans slidably mounted on the arms of said loop and settable to automatically eliect the release when the traveling member reaches any chosen point in its movement, said releaser being retained in set position upon said loop by the spring pressure exerted by the arms of the latter upon it. 4

11. In an automatic Stop mechanism, the combination, with a rotatable member, and a member adapted to travel thereacross; of a brake tending to engage the rotating meme ber; means for holding said brake in disengaged position during the movement of the traveling member across therotating member; a spring loop connected to move in unison with said traveling member; and a slide settable on and straddling the arms of said loop and having a contact lug adapted to strike against and release said holding means when the traveling member reaches a chosen point in its movement, said slide being retained in set position upon said loop by the spring pressure exerted upon it by the arms of the loop.

12. In an automatic stop meehanism,'the combination, with a rotatable member and a member adapted to travel thereacross; of

an operating part connected to move relatively to, but in unison with, the traveling part; a brake tending to engage the rotating member; and a latch for holding said brake in disengaged position during the movement of the traveling member across said rotating member; said operating part and said latch having contact pieces adapted to strike against each other when said traveling member reaches a selected point in its movement, thereby to release said latch, the contact pieces having opposing finger projections adapted to be pressed together, the contact piece carried by the op erating part being adjustable on and rela-' tive to the same to determine the position of such point. 1

13. In an automatic stop mechanism, the combination, with a rotatable member and a member adapted to travel thereacross; of an operating part connected to move in unison with the traveling part; a brake tending to engage the rotating member; a latch for holding said brake in disengaged position provided with a finger-piece; and an element adjustably mounted on said operating part and having a finger-piece for effecting its adjustment, the finger pieces on the latch and adjustable element being located adjacently for manual setting of the adjustable element; the second-named fingerpiece being adapted to strike against the first-named finger-piece and thereby release said latch when said traveling member reaches a point in its movement determined by such adjustmen 14:. In an automatic stop mechanism, the combination, with a rotatable member and a member adapted to travel thereacross;

of an operating part connected to move relatively to, but in unison with, the traveling part; a brake tending to engage the rotating member; and a latch associated with the brake; said latch and brake having interlocking projections for holding the latter in disengaged position, and said operating part and latch having contact pieces adapted to strike against each other when the traveling member reaches a selected point in its movement, thereby to uncouple said projections and means on said contact pieces for bringing the latter against one another at such selected point to set the con tact pieces, the contact piece carried by the operating part being adjustable on and relative to the same to determine the position of such point.

15. In an automatic stop mechanism, the combination, with a rotatable member and a member adapted to travel thereacross; of a spring metal operating part connected to move in unison with the traveling part; a brake tending to engage the rotating member; a latch for holding said brake in disengaged position during the movement of the traveling member across the rotating member; and a. contact piece settable on said operating part and frictionally held in set position by the spring pressure of said part thereagainst, said contact piece being adapted to strike and release said latch when the traveling member reaches a point in its movement determined by the setting of the contact piece, the latch and contact piece having opposed finger projections adapted to be pressed together to effect the setting of the contact piece.

16. In an automatic stop mechanism, the combination, with a rotatable member, and a member adapted to travel thereaoross in either direction; of an operating part connected to move in unison with said traveling member; a brake tending to engage the rotating member, said brake having a lug which is engaged and pulled back by the operating part consequent upon the movement of the traveling member in one direction, whereby said brake is automatically released; means tending to hold said brake in disengaged position during the movement of the traveling member in the other direction; and a contact member capable of being set in different positions on said operating part adapted to strike against and release said holding means when said traveling member reaches a previously selected point in its second-named movement.

17. In an automatic stop mechanism, the combination, with a rotatable member, and a member adapted to travel thereacross in either direction; of an operating part in the form of a loop connected to move in unison with said traveling member; a brake tending to engage the rotating member and hav ing a projection which is straddled by said loop and engaged by the end thereof consequent upon the movement of the travelin member in one direction, whereby said brake is automatically released; means tending to hold said brake in disengaged position during the movement of the traveling member in the other direction; and a contact memher on said operating part adapted to strike against and release said holding means when said traveling member reaches a predetermined oint in its second-named movement.

18. 11 an automatic stop mechanism, the combination, with a rotatable member, and a member adapted to travel thereacross in either direction; of an operating part in the form of a spring loop connected to move in unison with said traveling member; a brake tending to engage the rotating member and having a projection which is straddled by said loop and engaged by the end thereof consequent upon the movement of the traveling member in one direction, whereby said brake is automatically released; means tending to hold said brake in disengaged position during the movement of the traveling member in the other direction; and a contact member on said loop adapted to strike against and release said holding means when said traveling member reaches a predetermined point in its second named movement; said contact member being adjustable on said loop to determine the point at which the release takes place and held in adjusted position by the spring pressure exerted upon it by the loop arms.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set In hand.

y ROBERT HEAD. 

